Connecting with children — Escondido educator, author aims books at young adults

JOEL D. AMOS - For the North County Times

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Four years removed from the arrival of her first book,
Escondido's Robin Vaupel is still glowing from the thrill of seeing
her eighth-grade Rincon Middle School students share in the
joy.

"At my first book signing, I had a cheering section," Vaupel
said. "They were so excited for me."

Her latest, "Rules of the Universe by Austin W. Hale" (Holiday
House, $16.95) arrived in stores Aug. 15. Her primary passion is
imparting literary treasures to eighth-graders, something she has
done for the last 30 years, the last 23 at Rincon.

"That is the one thing that doesn't change. Students are always
eager to make connections with good pieces of literature that touch
them," she said as she readied for another school year.

The fact that Vaupel's target audience shares an age group with
her students might explain the genre she has chosen. "When I first
began writing seriously eight years ago, I felt there was nothing
else I'd write but young adult novels," Vaupel said and laughed. "I
read so much young adult fiction, it seemed natural."

In 2003, "My Contract With Henry" arrived from her publisher,
Holiday House. The story is about eighth-graders who study Henry
David Thoreau's "Walden," about Walden Pond in Concord, Mass.
Inspired by the book, they create a world that the famous author
would treasure.

Unlike the legend of the writer who tirelessly searches for an
agent and publisher, Vaupel's fortunes were the opposite. "It got
published relatively quickly," she said. A life-changing moment
arrived in 2004 with an invite from Walden Pond for a book signing.
"It was just a thrill. That is a special place for me."

A featured author during the center's 150th anniversary of
"Walden," Vaupel was star-struck, ironically, at herself. "Walden
carries my book in their bookshop. People from all over the world
pick up the book," she said.

The idea for the second book came as quickly as she found a
publisher. "I love the big ideas of science. I wanted to probe the
idea that science could be as interesting as magic," Vaupel said.
"There are many books that deal with magic. It is the basis of all
fantasy. But I've always thought that science is so magical. And
it's real."

With her first protagonist a girl, Vaupel created Austin W.Hale, the 13-year-old grandson of a physics Nobel Prize-winner."His grandfather has been shaping and molding Austin for years. Hehas come to stay with the family, as he is dying," Vaupel said.

Early in their visit, Austin discovers a powerful force among
his grandfather's belongings. "He then embarks on the quest to
harness the power of it and ultimately tries to save his
grandfather with it. He's determined.

"Along the way, his efforts result in a bunch of near disasters.
He discovers it can change animals, people and turn back time. He
gets into quite a few tight corners with it," Vaupel said.

After completing this second work and witnessing its recent
arrival, Vaupel has taken a step back and found connections between
two distinct books. "I realized that I come back to a young person
discovering the natural world," she said. "It's very Thoreau-like,
in a sense."

Her students have frequently asked from where her subjects
arise. "Characters are an amalgam of wonderful young people I've
met over the years," Vaupel said. "I teach some amazing
students."